614 Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory

Mission

The principal mission of Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics is to understand the behavior of stratospheric ozone and trace gases that influence ozone. Ozone and trace gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons profoundly influence the habitability of the Earth even though together they comprise less than one percent of the Earth’s atmosphere. Ozone itself absorbs nearly all the biologically damaging solar ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the Earth’s surface. The Clean Air Act of 1977 assigns the responsibility for studying the ozone layer to NASA. Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics is the center for ozone and related atmospheric research at the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Atmospheric Chemistry

The Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory studies the ozone layer, a responsibility the Clean Air Act assigns to NASA. In addition, there is increasing concern about the global aspects of tropospheric pollution, and the coupling between chemical composition and climate.

One of the Laboratory’s principal missions is to understand the behavior of stratospheric ozone and trace gases that influence ozone. Ozone and trace gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons profoundly influence Earth’s habitability.

The Laboratory also studies the processes that control the composition of Earth’s troposphere, the impact of human activity on global atmospheric pollution, and the impact of climate change on future concentrations of stratospheric ozone and tropospheric gases.

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